Leading Forward

by Bruno Feldeisen

OVID-19: I never believed in a doomsday scenario, but I knew that my daily life as a chef, father, cookbook author and TV personality would be impacted greatly for the next two to three years.

As the COVID-19 crisis engulfed the world, my first cookbook, Baking with Bruno, was just being released in Canada and the United States. The timing to launch such an endeavor couldn’t have been worse. A cookbook project takes about three years from start to finish, and I was so excited to see my recipes hit bookstore shelves. As the pandemic began to worsen, my excitement quickly died as I received dozens of emails cancelling all the events planned for the launch. No more book signing events, no more cooking demos. Forecasts for book sales and any anticipated royalties derived from the book were slashed by 70 percent. It quickly became apparent that survival meant I would have to adapt my plans and goals to meet and adjust to a multitude of new circumstances. The ability to do so would mean the difference between success and scrapping all the efforts to date.

Flexibility and Evolution

For the past three years, I have been a judge on a Canadian TV production called The Great Canadian Baking Show, produced by CBC. It is modeled on the highly successful The Great British Bake Off. The show had three seasons under its belt when we were told that the fourth season’s production would be delayed or possibly even cancelled. Most TV productions in the U.S. and Canada were being shut down rapidly, but the TV and film industry in British Columbia quickly established some new safety rules and protocols. They had to: adapt and survive. Thousands of high-paying jobs in a billion-dollar industry were on the line. Take the Hallmark Channel: this network alone shoots about 60 films in Vancouver every year. Add to that Hulu, Netflix, ABC, etc., and we are talking about hundreds of shows being shot in British Columbia.

A lot of U.S.-based studios noticed the new standards being established in British Columbia. By June 2020, productions started up again. More importantly, crews felt safe and insurance companies were willing to issue coverage. In July, I got the call: season 4 was approved to shoot in late August and, as an extra topping, Amazon Prime Canada and Netflix Canada picked up the first three seasons for their viewers. It was a win-win for everyone. The pandemic created a huge demand for streaming services content – opportunity recognized.

Lessons from the Kitchen

Throughout all of the turmoil, as circumstances forced me to pivot, I was able to look at creative ways to adjust. Being nimble and agile became critical for success and actually opened new avenues to pursue. I also took the time to meditate and to be aware of the moment, which helped to reveal new opportunities. Ultimately, the pandemic taught me three important lessons:

1. Be patient and trust in those around you
2. Be less greedy, as success takes many forms
3. Be more compassionate and inclusive, especially in the decision-making process

In reflection, leadership is learned in the field and not in books or classrooms. Strong leaders rise through adversity, especially when challenges are bigger than one solution and larger than oneself. Being aware is critical so that you can take advantage of the small openings that can lead to positive changes. When faced with adversity, don’t stop. Simply reassess, look at all angles and keep moving forward.

On a more personal level, the sweeter part of the past 12 months was spending time with my teenage son 24/7. That time together was a gift: we learned so much about each other. We cooked together – breakfasts, lunches and dinners. We listened to music on old vinyls, learned to play ukulele, and went running. It was a unique time to truly savor being in the moment as father and son.